Service-box



R. H. IVIUELLER.

SERVICE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR 30. 1917.

Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S513 v@ MAQ/ZW 'mi'. COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. wAslllNoroN. D. c.

R. H. MUELLER.

sERvmE Box.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. |917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lvwantoz C1601 new TNB COLUMBIA PLANOURAPN Co.. wASMlNdroN. D. c.

Pamted July 29, 1919.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

ROBERT H. MUELLER, F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

sEnvcEBoxL To-all whom it may/concern.'

. Be it known that I, ROBERT H. MUEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in ithe county of Macon and State lof Il-linois, have invented new and useful *Improvements in Service-Boxes, of which 4the following is a specification.

The present invention rela-'tes "to service boxes,sas they are yknown, which are designed to Vhouse lstop cocks which Iare vordinarily used to regulate the iow o'ffluid, such as water -or gas, from service mains to the house connections, these bo'xes being 'of such constructiontha't by means of a stop cock key the cocks may be'r'e-adi'ly manipulated.

` The Istop cocks with which `these service l.boxes are used are, of course, laid underground at various depths, and in 4order to do away with the necessity of having `a line of boxes of different lengths it hasbeen '1 customary -to ma'ke them Iin `two tel'eseoping parts, so that they may be adjusted "to give thel proper length,'dependent onthe depthto which the pipes and stop cock were laid.

The purpose'of the present invention is vto provide -a telescoping service fbox which may be readily Ladjusted through 'a wide range to adaptit for various depths, and, furthermore, Aprovide a telescoping Jservice box, which, when placed in position Ioverthe stop cock and `adjusted to the proper length, willv be automatically held in Iits position `of adjustment, f'so that the trench can be ifilled in, after which it will, `oi' "course, Ebe maintained in vfinally adjusted position.

Broadly considered it is old to provide `a telescoping service `box in which the parts, after being once adjusted, will be 4autor-natically clamped in adjusted `position andthere held, but the present construction conftains certain improvements over that vtype of automatically clamped adjustable box which make it more desirable and eiiicient. 4

In lorder that the invention may 4The clear to those skilled inthe art I have shown in the accompanying drawings'one embodiment of my invention, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a View, for `the most part in section, of a service box embodying my improvements Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken at right yangles to the section of Fig. 1..

' Fi 3` is `a transverse sectional view'on the 11ne-3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. el is a view in transverse section on the imei-4 of Fig. 1.

'Speci'eation .of Letters Patent. ,.Itenfd111157.29,` 1919, Application led April 30, 1917. SelallNo. 165,534.

v Fig. Bis 'a view *inf'eleva'tion of the lower end `o'f "the upper ftclescop'ing member ofy the service box.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view offt'hc lowerfend of the upper tele'scoping member-'of the serv- -ice box, lshowing a slightly modified construction I Fig. l7 is a vertical sectional view 'ofpor tions of the `upper and `lower vtelee'c'opin'g members fto `show the manner `of assembling. Eig. '8 lis-'a `view -i'n'cross` section to illustrate a slightly different form'offcasing j Fig.`9 is a vertical sectionof'th'e form of the invention shown in Fig. 8.

Referring `to Ithe drawings *by numbers, like numbers indicating :like `parts' in the `several views, 10 indicates the lower orouter casi-ng mem'ber of the lservice box, this being preferably Acast 'and having an enlarged chamber 11 at rits lower end,'whi`ch lower end may be also Isp'lit or arched, as at `12, 'if desired, although it is not 'of necessity 'of this arched type. 'llh'ec'hamber 11 leadsto a chamber' 13 having an inclined wall`,`as shown, 'the chamber 13 'connecting with ,lthe tubulinl 'bore' 14 of fthe upper part of the member 1). The wall ofthe charnber ll'has means, such as a groove =or grooves 15, herein shown as 'diametrica'lly arranged for the 'purpose of lock-ing this 'lower member of fthe casingand the upper member, presently 'to 'be described, against relative rotation, alth'ough permitting free 'longitudinal "movement of the -upp'erand lower membersrelav`tive to 'each other. The lower 'ends of thc grooves I15 terminate inthe inclined wall 'of the cham/ber 13, fand they are preferably ared,^as shown in Fig. 2, `for a purpose which will presently appeal'. A't `its upper end the casing 10 is crowned `and has ai 'circular aperture 16 therein, which'receives the upper telescoping member 17. 'The upper member 17 is shown in the present instance `as tubular, and it, has a sliding it with the lower member 10 through 'the aperture 1*6, 'this `fit being such that', While permitting the parts to move freely, it will prevent the ventranc'eofl dirt between themcmber l7'and the walls of 'theaperture 16. At its .upper end the member'17 is provided with any suitable cover or cap 18, which may be removed when itis necessary tomanipulate the stop cock by means `of the l stop key,`

which stop `lkey may be inserted through thello Ati its-lower end the 'upper 17 is provided with a head 19, preferably cast as shown, which has a" socket-QO-toreceive the lower end of the upper member 17 socket being preferably cliaiiibered out "so" that when the member 17 and head are brou-ght'togetherfa's' shown in Fig; 'lgethefA bores of the head 19 andthe Ymembenl' will coincide and give a smooth interior lwithout projections. lhe1 head 19 and the 'f member 1;( Hmaya-be connected in any. suitableemanner, but I have shown a'coiivenient forni'- oficonnectionffiii l.I4`;igs., 1fand5'2, .in :which the head 191s cut diametrically'-through aportion of its .lengthyas shown-at 21,` and,lugs}22 are struck out from tlie'lower end or' themember lfainto the recessforniedeby the cut-.21 in Y the head19,- so vas rto.- lock-.the ,parts firmly togetheiai'assliownin Fig. 2, this forming `a convenientand cheap method f of A fastening the parts .rigidly: .together,

,i Exteriorlythe? head '19S is provided; :with

outstanding lugSRQB, which lengage the groovesrl andfholdfth'e parts -fromrotatioin although ,f permitting jgthenil to-v have free longitudinab f' movement relative to each other. The grooves -,-15,f as has lbeen stated,

terminate iin the Vinclined walll ofthe chamber 13,fgand thelaring. slower. ends of these grooves. 15 `form a convenient mouth todi.- rect-theliigs 12,3130 the grooves, so that vwhen .the parts -1v arefassembled the lugs 23 will lreadilyrenter fthe fgrooves.n

The-headf-19 yis fprovided-.also, preferably ate-its lower end, with aacircular groove, in `which is mountedl al-spring ring 24,'thisfr-ing being preferably 4ot-non-corrodible metal,

A and ofa diameter somewhat-,larger tlianthe diameter tof the groove in thefhead19'. The said! springring. 24 wlienYVe-Xpanded, is of a diameter.somewhadiin excess of theldiameter Y of the borerofrtl-ie lower member 10, so that when.the .partsfare assembled ,and the Vmem- Vbore ofrthe memberl', due to castingopera.-

tions; r:the spring may y yield suflicientlyand i veliminate .any danger-of jamming. f

w In.the-.disclosureain Fig. 6 the lugs25 instead of beingV struck 'out fin the-form :of tongiieauas shown eine-F igs, '1 and, are .simply biilged or@v sivnagedr out4 without cutting 'Y the metal, sofas tosecureinterlocking of the tubeandfthe Vhead/ri v; ifi v-1-In^assemblingf.thefmembers 10 and 217, the

i head 19wwill :be .secured to the-lower end of `the member 17,;thefs'pring-241 will be :snapped 'intof thel groove which itengages, :as stated,

with a loose fit, but from which itxeannot be Yreadily displaced, and the upper end of K the member 17v will then be inserted through thefchambers 11an'd13 until its upper end .protrudes from the orifice 16 at the top or" theineniber 10, after which the cap 18 will be attached in any suitable manner. When 'it `is 'desired to adjust the partsthe. vmember tAlifwi-l'l' be. drawn-.up with its lugs 23 iii engagementwith the i grooves 15, and as the head 19 passes up'through the coned: chamf ber' 13.r the"V spring- 2231 will be; compressed "by the inclinedfwall ofthechamber-13 (see Figyf and readily drawn-into thektubu-lar bore gofthegmember 10.1 Inf-this condition the parts-are underisuch friction, byq-reason of the spring 24,1 that theyY will maintain their4 .-adjgusted; position, Iand the necessity for holdin@ the;l parts `,extended to ,the `proper `length ;.until the-filling' in has taken place is ,doiiefawayfavitlr .f Y lnFigs-j-S and 9. isfillustrated a .-formfof the inventionein which --tlief groovesinthe loweifcasing and the lugs -on the-head may be dispensed-'with byformingthe head.l 26

of afshapel-gotlier tliancircularin cross ysection, the particular fornrillustrated being an elliptical form.z The lower casing' 27 will,

of course, corres-pond in its-cross sectional shape to the elliptical JJform of the head, `tand j;

the spring 28 showiiin dottedlines will be offelliptieal shapeandlie ina groove in the elliptical head 726.1@l With this construction the parts will be non-rotatable Vwith respect Y to eac-h other, andthe groovingofthe lower i i easing -and the. formation-of `lugscon the head may-bedispensedlwith.;

v".(Theconstruction is.of value? in lthat y assembling olf-the several elements-,fand par- Y tcularlythe upper member, headfand 'rictioiifrspring may be readily and f quickly. ac,-V

complished,` and, furthermore, thefinsertion' ofthe-meinberlt' intofthe member 10 is,{by ieasonoi:l the arrangement of' the conedand tubular chambers easilyfaccomplished,-and r-f:

without -the necessity of-using expanding toolsor other .devices to hold the ,spring f in positionntof-permit the parts to `begbrouglit towtelescoped condition.-V v v Y q Such. variations from the. specific .-embodi@ kment here shown as are within-.the-raiigefof mechanical skilllideemfto -be within the scope ofVvl my @inventionfand do -iiot 'limit -niyself to the particularconstruction shown,

except in so far as Lam-'limited sby the terms i oftheappended claims. i., if.' i

I-claim` i -f 1- ,L11-In va-service b'oX and in combination; a lower hollow memberhavingfanvnturned flange at its top, an upper hollow-mem'bei` telescopiiig `r`therein .andiY fittingclosely said flange, means onionewof ys'aidrmembeixi to prevent relative rotation, and means carried at the lower end of saidiipper-member lto Y.

:frictionallyiengagefitlie lower memberk and maintain the members' iii'adjusted position.

2. In a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member having an inturned flange at its top, an upper hollow member telescoping therein and fitting closely said flange, means on one of' said members to prevent relative rotation, and a contractile spring ring at the lower end of said upper member to frictionally engage the lower member and maintain the members in adjusted position.

3. In 'a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member, an upper hollow member telescoping therein, means on one of said members to prevent relative rotation, a contractile spring ring carried by said upper member to frictionally engage the lower member Iand maintain the members in adjusted position, and means earried by said lower member to gradually contract said spring as the parts are assembled.

4. In a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member, an upper hollow member telescoping therein, means on one of said mem'bers to prevent relative rotation, a contractile spring ring carried by said upper member to frictionally engage the lower member and maintain the members in adjusted position, and an inclined wall on said lower member to gradually contract said spring as the parts are assembled.

5. In a service Ibox and in combination, a lower hollow member having an enlarged receiving chamber at its lower. end, a chamber having an inwardly flaring inner wall adjacent said first-named chamber, an upper tubular chamber extending from said second chamber, an upper hollow member telescoping in said lower member, and a contractile spring at the lower end of said upper member compressible against the wall of said flaring chamber when the parts are assem'bled and adapted to frictionally engage the tubular cham'ber of said lower member and maintain the parts in adjusted position.

6. In a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member having a section of its borel coned, and a groove leading vertically therefrom; an upper member telescop- Copies of this patent may be' obtained for ing in said lowcr member and having groove engaging means thereon, and a contractile ring of larger diameter than the bore ol said lower member carried by said upper member and adapted to frictionally maintain the parts in adjusted position, said contractile ring engaging the coned bore and being compressed when the parts are assembled.

7. In a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member having a section of' its fbore coned, and a groove having a flared lower end leading vertically therefrom; an upper member telescoping in said lower member and having groove engaging means thereon, and a contractile ring of' larger diameter than the bore of said lower member carried by said upper member and adapted to frictionally maintain the parts in adjusted position, said contractile ring engaging the coned bore and being compressed when the parts are assembled.

8. In a service box and in combination; a lower hollow member having grooves with flared lower ends in its inner wall, an nippel' hollow member telescoping in said lower member and having lugs to engage said flared grooves when the parts are assembled to lock the members against relative rotation.

9. A service box member comprising a pipe-like section having a gnoove in, its outer wall at its lower end, and a contractile friction spring of greater diameter than said groove mounted therein.

10. A service box member comprising a pipe-like section. a socketed head having a through bore coupled therewith, said head having a circular groove in its outer wall, and a contractile spring loosely mounted in said groove and of greater diameter than the diameter of' said groove.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of' two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT II. MUELLER. Vitnesses:

ERWIN J. KLEIMEIER, JEWEL W. WELLS.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C. 

